Don’t Dwell On The Negative

It’s easy to tell someone to think positive thoughts when times are tough. It’s what we want them to do and it is certainly the sage advice we’re given when we face setbacks or even catastrophic life events.

But we all know that this is easier said than done. Going through a job search and receiving rejections, while not catastrophic, can certainly feel that way at times, especially when you’ve been looking for a while or have a family depending on your success. Even when you are not in dire straits it may feel as if the whole world is turning against you when you spend off hours filling out application after application.

In the book Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communicationby Ronald B. Adler, the author challenges us to condition ourselves not to obsess over catastrophic expectations. He states, “The fallacy of catastrophic expectations occurs when one assumes that if something bad can happen then it will; catastrophic thinking often takes the form of rumination, which is the presence of recurrent thoughts not demanded by the immediate environment.”

Rumination will not only adversely affect your health, it will also negatively affect your relationships, your career and your life, if not held in check.

It’s not easy to move past negative thoughts and break the cycle of rumination but coaching can certainly help. Working with a coach will help you dissect and explore the truth behind the negative thoughts and explore ways to formulate and practice the habit of resilience.

Once again, I remind you of the Law of Attraction—the belief that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, people can bring positive or negative experiences into their life.

So why not choose to channel your thoughts towards a more positive vain? Please don’t dismiss this blog as wishful thinking or ideas of impossibility. You can break the cycle of dwelling on the negative. It doesn’t mean you won’t erase these thoughts all together, but when you practice the habit of resilience you will not only be healthier and more successful but you will attract positive energy in your life.

A Healthy Career

A Healthy Career is all about infusing “Zen” into your work—cultivating a career that is sustainable, engaging and supports your overall well-being. It’s my sincere hope that you find, and share, inspiration here that helps you continue to be healthy, happy and successful in all that you do.